Oslo
Currency
NOK
Language
Norwegian
Timezone
Oslo
Continent
Europe
Discover Oslo
Oslo sits at the head of a fjord, surrounded by forest, and it is the European capital where nature starts soonest. Akershus castle, a medieval fortress turned royal residence, has commanded the harbour since 1299. The Oslo Cathedral and the Oslo rådhus — the city hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented — close the centre. The Viking Ship Museum keeps three 9th-century vessels lifted intact from burial mounds. Vigeland park displays two hundred sculptures by a single artist, open and free at all hours.
When to go
May to August: the days stretch until they barely end and the city lives outdoors. September adds the colour. Winter is cold and dark — light at nine, dark at three — but cross-country skiing starts in the forest at the end of a metro line, which has no equivalent. Avoid November, dark and snowless.
Getting around
Metro, trams and buses run on one ticket, and a metro line leads straight into the Nordmarka forest. The centre walks well. Ferries serve the fjord islands for the price of an ordinary ticket, and that is the finest way to see the city in summer.
Where to eat
Salmon in every form and fjord prawns dominate. Brunost, the brown caramel-tasting cheese, is eaten in thin slices on bread — it divides visitors. Meatballs and reindeer fill out the table. Eating out is expensive: covered markets and food halls are the sensible option. Only two halal addresses are listed.
Good to know
The Norwegian krone is the currency, not the euro, and Norway is almost entirely cashless — many businesses no longer take notes. The country is expensive, alcohol especially, sold through a state monopoly above a low strength. Everyone speaks English. And the right to roam allows walking and camping almost anywhere, private land included, provided the place is respected.
Where to Stay in Oslo
Top Activities in Oslo
landmarkAkershus castle
landmarkOslo Cathedral
landmarkNational Library
landmarkNational Theatre
landmarkOslo rådhus
landmarkRoyal Palace
museumViking Ship Museum
museumFram Museum
museumNobel Peace Center
landmarkNational Gallery
museumKon-Tiki Museum
landmarkOslo Central Station
museumMuseum of Cultural History
museumAstrup Fearnley Museum
museumDefence Musuem
museumThe Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
landmarkGol stavkirke
landmarkTrefoldighetskirken
landmarkSankt Olav domkirke
museumNatural History Museum at the University of Oslo
parkFrogner Park
Free
landmarkOslo Spektrum
landmarkGamle Aker kirke
museumUniversity Botanical Garden
Restaurants in Oslo
Ekebergrestauranten
Maaemo
Stortorvets Gjæstgiveri
Asylet
Theatercaféen
Grand Café
Engebret Kafé
